The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-08-18

plan on which it was to be |
operated with the assent and |
Of the officers of
The church at Pulaski and the as
sent and concurrence OF ministers
and members of the Tennessee an
nual conference canvassers we're put
into the field soliciting subscrip-
tons from the pubic indiscrimi-
nately, and over $4,000 was sub
scribed to the school as chartered.
They are informed that the great
er portion of this sum was with the
distinct understanding and assur-
ance that the school would not de-
nominational but would be alone
under the contol of the board of
trust and open to all the children
OF the community. Of this sub
scription about 81 1000 was made by
Methodists and about $4,000 by
persons who were not Methodists.
1t would not now be right or
proper to prove untrue to these
ANU dPoh b'NA
these promises were made and upon
which the most liberal patronagehas
since been extended sto the school.
The board of trust has tried to
keep the school true to its relation
to the community on one hand and
to the church on the other, and the
people of the town and those of the
county acquainted with its history
have come to regard the school as
their own and if now taken from
them and turned over to denomina
tional and to some extent foreign
control they will not sustain or
patronize it, and the primary inten
ton of the founder and subscribers
will be thwarted in trying to build
up school for the children of the
community. Not one dollar of the
fund raised under the will of Nj.
Martin or the subscription has ever
passedthrough the handsof the quar-
terly or annual conference. The cash
oequest of $4,000 less the govern
ment tax was paid over directly by
the executor, II. M. Spoford, to the
treasurer of Martin College. The
bonds were placed by the executor
in the Pulaski Savings Bank and
afterwards transferred to its sue
cessor, the Giles National Bank,
where they have ever since remain
ed. The coupons on these bonds
have been clipped as they have ma
tured and have been collected and
paid over through the treasurer oil
the board of stewards to the treasur-
er of Martin Female College.
The original order of the officers
Of the church designating the party
to receive this interest was no,
made in any quarterly conference
or in any church capacity, but sim
ply as the parties designated in the
will as individuals.
Exhibit No. 8 is a part Of said or
der and is made part Of this an
swer as follows;
At a called meeting of the boarC
of stewards of the NJ. E. Church
South at Pulaski station there were
present, viz: W. II. Hughes, P c..
L. M. N. Jones, S. u T., w. F. Bal
entine, S. & T., 1. Ii. Rainey, T., L
W. McCord, S., Thos. S. William
son, T., f. Arrowsmith, S. d L.
| Will. S. Eel. S.
Mr.. w. F. Ballentine stated the
object of the meeting was for the
purpose of passing a resolution au
Jhorizlng the treasurer of this board
f. Arrowsmlth, to apply to Judge
Fl. NJ. Spofford for the past due In
terest on $4,000 in Tennessee
bonds left by the late Thomas Mar
tin for educational purposes. The
following resolution was adopted:
Resolved by the board OF steward
of the NJ. E. Church South at Pulaski
station that the treasurer of this board
f. ArroLsmith, be authorised to apply
tor and collect the past due interest OF
the $4,000 in Tennessee bonds left b,
the last will and testament of Thoma
Martin fer educational purposes, ant
furthermore resolved that this treasure
of this board, F. Arrowsmlth, be di
rected to pay over to the trustees o
Martin Female College all Of the monei
and coupons collected by him, takin!
receipt tor the same. No other bust,
ness appearing the board adjourned.
WHO HAS APPOINTED TRUSTEES?
| No trustees were ever appointed
or vacancies filled by a quarterl,
i conference and no presiding eide
has ever presided or claimed thu
right to preside at such election
The trustees have ali been nomina
ted by the officers Of the church a
Pulaski presided over by the preach
er in charge without question b,
either the quarterly or annual con
| ference.
WHAT THE QUARTERLY CCNFNRFNCI
HAS DONE.
| The relation of the church to th,
school has been passed upon NOR
than once by the quarterly confer
ence at Pulaski station. On til
| 18th of May, 1881, Rev. j. A. Or
man, presiding elder of Pulaski ant
predecessor of the present presidin!
elder, appointed committee t.
examine the will and charter ant
all other papers bearing upon tn
Iquestion and to report the relation
of the same to the church. AndreV
j. Alternately, the present chancel-
| Tor, and John s. Wilkes, now presi
dent of the board of trust of Mar
tin College, were appointed as tina
committee. Both were members o
the quarterly conference and neithe
of them was at that time connectes
with Martin Female College. The,
made report which was approved
and adopted by the quarterly con
ference, also by the presiding elder
and spread upon the minutes of tn
conference.
Exhibit No. 4 is correct cop,
of that report and is made a part o
this answer as follows:
To the quarterly conference o
the Methodist Episcopal Churcl
South at Pulaski; Your committe
appointed to examine the will o
the late Thomas Martin and othe
papers relating to Martin Femal
College and to report the relation